Parthiv Patel, the former keeper reckons that while all-format Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been highly impressive with his leadership, his bowling changes are getting a bit predictable. He pointed out that the Indian skipper likes bringing in a left-arm spinner inside the first six overs.
Axar Patel came on to bowl the fifth over in the fourth T20I against West Indies on Saturday (August 6) in Lauderhill. He conceded 22 runs as Nicholas Pooran clubbed him for one four and three sixes before getting run out off the last ball.
Parthiv Patel Opens Up On Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy
Defending a total of 191, Team India went on to complete a 59-run win in the fourth T20I and took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Speaking about Rohit’s captaincy, Parthiv said during a discussion:“Yes, you can see that pattern in it (Rohit’s captaincy). A left-arm spinner usually bowls the 4th or the 5th over. Ravindra Jadeja, whenever he played, he bowled that 4th or 5th over. Today (Saturday) also Axar came in. Maybe that over could have been bowled by Arshdeep Singh.”
Speaking about Arshdeep Singh, Parthiv Patel praised the left-arm seamer for his brilliant yorkers at the death. At the same time, he also credited the Indian fielders for maintaining the ball well.
The 37-year-old commented: “The way he (Arshdeep) bowled those inswinging yorkers with the slightest of help from the wicket (was very impressive). The Indian team is maintaining the ball really well to get that reverse. If you can do that (get the ball to tail in) in 20-over cricket, obviously you have ability. But the Indian team is definitely maintaining the ball very well.”
Arshdeep Singh was impressive again, finishing the match with excellent figures of 3 for 12 in 3.1 overs. He cleaned up Dominic Drakes (5) and Obed McCoy (2) with excellent yorkers besides picking Jason Holder’s wicket. The pacer has claimed 9 scalps in only 5 T20Is averaging an impressive 12.55 at an awesome economy rate of 6.05.
Parthiv Patel Opens Up On Harshal Patel’s Side Strain Which Takes Time To Recover
Team India suffered a setback ahead of the 4th T20I match as pacer Harshal Patel was ruled out of the series owing to a side strain. He is set to miss the Asia Cup and his participation in the T20 World Cup is in doubt too.
Speaking about the injury, Parthiv Patel opined: “The side strains are very tricky for fast bowlers. It takes a lot of time, that’s why I have heard from a lot of bowlers. Once they get a side strain, it does take time to heal.”
31-year-old Harshal Patel has played 17 T20Is for India, claiming 23 wickets at an average of 20.95 and an economy rate of 8.58.
India defeated West Indies by 59 runs in the fourth T20I to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series on Saturday. India posted 191 for five, riding on a solid batting display with Rishabh Pant (44 off 31 balls) emerging as the top scorer. Rohit Sharma (33) and Sanju Samson (30) also chipped in with useful contributions.
In reply, WI could manage 132 all-out in 19.1 overs. Arshdeep Singh (3/12), Avesh Khan (2/17), Axar Patel (2/48), and Ravi Bishnoi (2/27) were amongst the wickets for India.